The departures of federal prosecutor Jason Reding Quiñones and National Security Division chief John Eisenberg follow the resignation of Civil Rights Division head Harmeet Dhillon, leaving three senior Justice Department positions vacant within two days.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
WASHINGTON — Two senior Justice Department officials resigned Friday, Nov. 6, including the federal prosecutor overseeing an investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan and other officials involved in past investigations of President Donald Trump, marking the latest departures from the department following Republicans’ sweeping midterm election losses.
Jason Reding Quiñones, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John Eisenberg, assistant attorney general for the National Security Division, submitted their resignations to Attorney General Todd Blanche. Their departures came one day after Harmeet Dhillon stepped down as head of the department’s Civil Rights Division.
Blanche confirmed Quiñones’ resignation in a public statement but did not provide a reason for his departure.
“United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Jason Reding Quiñones submitted his resignation from the Department of Justice,” Blanche announced Friday.
“We are grateful for Jason’s leadership in combatting violent crime, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and transnational crime, including the indictment of Raúl Castro. Jason has served the Department multiple times over his distinguished career, and we thank him for his service to this country,” he added.
Quiñones had supervised the department’s investigation into whether officials from previous Democratic administrations improperly used federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies to target Trump.
The investigation, internally described as the “grand conspiracy” probe, has examined the origins of the Russia investigation involving Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, as well as subsequent federal investigations into the president.
A related investigation has focused on whether Brennan provided false testimony to Congress concerning the CIA’s role in preparing a 2017 intelligence assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
According to CBS News’ Nov. 6 reporting, Quiñones’ resignation comes after months of disagreements among prosecutors and senior Justice Department officials over the investigation’s management and the strength of available evidence.
The inquiry has involved grand jury proceedings in Fort Pierce, Florida, but has not produced criminal charges establishing the alleged conspiracy.
Brennan was subpoenaed in September to appear before a federal grand jury, according to earlier CBS News reporting.
His attorneys have challenged the investigation, arguing that it is politically motivated and lacks sufficient evidence to support criminal prosecution.
Quiñones’ departure follows several previous changes involving prosecutors assigned to the investigation.
Former federal prosecutor Joseph diGenova, who had been appointed to oversee the inquiry, resigned in September following disagreements with senior Justice Department leadership.
DiGenova’s departure came amid reported frustration over the investigation’s pace and disagreements concerning the evidence needed to support potential charges.
Kurt Olsen, a former White House attorney involved in the investigation, subsequently left the case, while other temporarily assigned prosecutors returned to their original offices.
Earlier this year, career prosecutor Maria Medetis Long was removed from the Brennan investigation after reportedly expressing concerns about the strength of the evidence.
The repeated personnel changes have raised questions about whether the department can advance the investigation toward potential indictments.
Blanche previously dismissed suggestions that the departures reflected significant internal disagreements, maintaining that the investigation would continue.
Quiñones had also supervised other high-profile federal cases in South Florida, including the indictment of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro and five other individuals in connection with the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft.
He established a Cuba-focused task force and oversaw investigations involving international organized crime, drug trafficking and corruption.
His resignation leaves the Southern District of Florida without its Senate-confirmed chief federal prosecutor while the department determines how to continue several politically sensitive investigations.
The second resignation Friday involved Eisenberg, who directed the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Blanche announced that he had accepted Eisenberg’s resignation and praised his work addressing domestic and international security threats.
“Today I accepted the resignation of Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division John Eisenberg from the Department of Justice. He has served with distinction, strengthening our nation’s ability to address threats, both foreign and domestic,” Blanche said.
“Under his leadership, the Division advanced President Trump’s mission to make America safe by prosecuting terrorists and working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt planned attacks on the American people.”
Blanche also acknowledged Eisenberg’s previous service in the Trump administration.
“This marks John’s second tour of duty serving President Trump as a national security official and advisor. We are grateful for his many years of commitment to protecting our nation and wish him continued success.”
Eisenberg previously served as a senior national security lawyer during Trump’s first presidential term.
His Justice Department division was responsible for major cases involving espionage, terrorism, cybersecurity and the protection of classified information.
The division also handled the prosecution of former national security adviser John Bolton over allegations involving the mishandling of classified material.
According to Reuters’ Nov. 6 report, neither Quiñones nor Eisenberg publicly explained the reasons for resigning.
Their departures follow Thursday’s resignation of Dhillon, who had led the department’s Civil Rights Division and implemented substantial changes to federal civil rights enforcement priorities.
Dhillon’s departure was announced as Democrats prepared to investigate the administration’s handling of civil rights cases, immigration enforcement and federal agency operations.
The three resignations leave vacancies in divisions responsible for national security, civil rights enforcement and major federal criminal investigations.
The timing follows Tuesday’s midterm elections, which gave Democrats control of both chambers of Congress beginning in January 2027.
Incoming Democratic committee leaders have announced plans to investigate the Justice Department’s operations, including allegations that the administration used federal law enforcement authorities against political opponents.
Those investigations could involve requests for internal communications, testimony from senior officials and examinations of prosecutorial decisions.
Republicans have defended the department’s investigations into former intelligence officials, arguing that questions about the origins and handling of the Trump-Russia investigation warrant further examination.
However, the allegations under investigation remain unproven, and no charges have been filed establishing the broader conspiracy described by administration officials.
The resignations also complicate the department’s leadership transition as it prepares for increased congressional oversight.
According to The Associated Press, the departures add to a broader series of personnel changes following the election, although senior officials have not publicly attributed the resignations to the results.
For now, the Brennan investigation remains unresolved, with prosecutors facing questions about the evidence, repeated personnel departures and whether additional grand jury proceedings will take place.
The Justice Department has not announced permanent replacements for Quiñones or Eisenberg.
Original article
Comments